We were one of the 38 exhibitors at the Churches Together in Lincolnshire's EQUIP Expo at the Lincolnshire Showground on Saturday 3rd October. This was our opportunity to highlight what we do to support parents who have children who identify as LGBT, but also give church-folk an opportunity to discuss LGBT issues.
We weren't disappointed.
We weren't disappointed.
We had material from FFLAG, Inclusive Church, Diverse Church, the Methodist LGBT initiative, Outcome and many books provided by the Unicorn Bookshop in Lincoln.
Many people came to us, throughout the day, and asked questions and then poured out their heart about LGBT issues which had affected them.
Many people came to us, throughout the day, and asked questions and then poured out their heart about LGBT issues which had affected them.
This is an issue which affects the Church
One person said that Same Sex Marriage didn't need to be discussed (because it was not relevant ~ didn't agree with it at all) and another said that, from information gained for certain TV programmes (from the US), they had inferred that the solution was to 'pray the gay away'. We were not there to judge but to allow discussion. They still discussed LGBT which was good even we didn't agree with their conclusion.
A number of people sought advice and support for their own particular family with LGBT children: you hope that the Church is providing that support now.
A number of people sought advice and support for their own particular family with LGBT children: you hope that the Church is providing that support now.
All other visitors to the stall were very affirming and this is a message that the Church needs to hear
The Methodist Church are soon to have meetings across Lincolnshire which will initially discuss Same Sex Marriage and then LGBT issues but no firm dates have yet been confirmed. It would appear that many people had read 'Walking with Gay Friends' by Alex Tylee (our review is here http://lincsparentslgbt.weebly.com/recommended-books.html) which we thought was very 'fundamentalist in nature'. We suggested that people read 'around the subject' possibly Torn by Justin Lee or God and the Gay Christian by Matthew Vines or the Complete Christian Guide to Understanding Homosexuality (also available at local bookshops).
Even with smaller than anticipated attendees to the Expo, the proportion of people who stopped at the stall, engaged with what we do, in such a positive manner, and that so many people felt that they were content to discuss family-related LGBT issues, strongly suggest that the Church is more open than many would consider. The Church is willing to enter into dialogue and willingly discuss.
The time has come to really open up the debate.
Even with smaller than anticipated attendees to the Expo, the proportion of people who stopped at the stall, engaged with what we do, in such a positive manner, and that so many people felt that they were content to discuss family-related LGBT issues, strongly suggest that the Church is more open than many would consider. The Church is willing to enter into dialogue and willingly discuss.
The time has come to really open up the debate.